Friday, December 19, 2008

U.P. likely to get two tigers zones

Lucknow (PTI): Keen to protect the tiger, whose population in the country is fast declining, the Centre is likely to declare two forest areas as tiger zones in Uttar Pradesh.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest has issued directives to start processes to declare Sohagi Barwa Sanctuary in Maharajganj district and Sohelwa Sanctuary in Balrampur district as tiger zones after presence and movement of the big cats have been observed in the regions, Divisional Forest Officer Vijay Pratap Singh told PTI.

The Ministry had asked the state to send a proposal in this regard.

"We got a letter from the Ministry in August asking us to send a proposal so that the sanctuaries could be declared as tiger zones. We will send the proposal to the state government in two-three days, which will then forward it to the Centre," he said.

"The sanctuary in Maharajganj acts as corridor between the sanctuaries in Nepal and Bihar. The Balrampur sanctuary also shares border with Nepal and so presence and movement of big cats is seen in the regions. The step thus will help boost the population of tigers," Singh said.

The proposed tiger zone at Sohagi Barwa is spread over an area of over 482 square km.

On the security measures to be taken in Maharajganj sanctuary, the official said, "As many as seven chowkis have been set up in the sanctuary to ensure that smuggling and poaching do not take place. Of the seven chowkis, two chowkis will be kept on high alert.